Space heaters are the perfect winter companions: They cut down on heating costs when you're only spending time in one room, and they keep you fireplace-toasty when you want to heat up quickly. The New York Times highlights five great models.

The Times' Stephen Treffinger put 10 commonly available space heaters to the test, rounding up the five best performing heaters based on their ability to heat up a 13-by-13-foot room from 55 to 65 degrees (which, for most, took under 30 minutes). He then rounded up the five that performed best, like the desk- and home-office-friendly Honeywell HZ-7200:

The 13-inch-tall unit from Honeywell was my favorite as a personal heater when I was sitting at my desk. It was lightweight, cool to the touch (even on the highest setting) and could be set to oscillate, which helped distribute the heat over a wider area. The dial was well designed — it was big and easy to turn, with temperature settings clearly demarcated in a simple font — and the temperature could be set between 65 and 80 degrees; there was also a setting that left the heater on indefinitely. It took about an hour to raise the room temperature significantly, but if the heater is aimed directly at you, you'll feel plenty warm.

Hit up the full article for details on each of the five favorites to find a space heater to fit your needs (check their slideshow for model information and purchase links). They'll set you back anywhere from $40 to $100 (with one extreme $200 exception), but if you fight with keeping your whole home warm when you're mostly spending time in one room, they'll pay you back. Got a space heater you love? Let's hear about it in the comments.